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Tac Vest does not make the grade.

My bad - didn't spot newest adds to this thread, so I'm bringing this over from another thread...

This, from MERX:
The department of National Defence has a requirement for three (3) different systems of modular fighting rigs with components and specialized pouches. The systems have to be military off the shelf or commercial off the shelf and in accordance with the Purchase Description dated September 2009.

Firm Quantity:
This requirement is for System A which includes quantity 180 C9 gunner kits, qty 280 commander kits, qty 90 M203 gunner kits, qty 230 pistol kit, qty 12 marksman kit, qty 180 confined space kit, qty 850 rifleman kit. System B which includes quantity 850 rifleman kits, qty 280 commander kits, qty 90 M203 gunner kits, qty 230 pistol kits, qty 12 marksman kits, qty 180 confined space kit. System C which includes quantity 850 rifleman kits, qty 280 commander kits, qty 90 M203 gunner kits, qty 230 pistol kits, qty 12 marksman kits, qty 180 confined space kits, qty 180 C9 gunner kits. Requirement also includes specialized and medical pouches.

(....)

Delivery requested: To commence as soon as possible and be completed by 31 (M)arch 2010.

As usual, some interesting background from the bid document:
The Afghanistan operation introduced significant changes to the Army's Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs) in order to adapt to the asymmetric characteristics of the threat presented by the operation. These changes have imposed considerable changes on the way in which soldiers fight, the way they select what fighting load is necessary for the mission, the way they carry their load, and their ability to frequently adapt their load to different missions.  Consequently, the current Tactical Vest (TV) has proven inadequate to respond to this requirement, and requires immediate replacement.

4. Recent operational experience has generated many observations concerning the inadequacy of the TV. The complaints have centered on the inability of the infantry soldier to configure pouches and pockets, and to personalize for ease of use for assigned tasks/roles (e.g.
C7 M-203 gunner; C-9 gunner, etc) and on the capacity of the pouches. 

Specifically, the TV has the following deficiencies:
4.1. It does not provide soldiers the ability to carry the required amount of mission specific ammunition, in order to conduct mission specific tasks.

4.2. It does not provide the modularity that soldiers require in order to prepare their equipment for mission specific tasks.

4.3. It does not provide a platform that facilitates easy access to ammunition.

It appears there's three combinations of kit:
System A consists of five main components including three front panel assemblies and two back yokes. The front panel assemblies and the back yokes are compatible and interchangeable. Torso Circumferential sizing is accomplished through the number of PALS/MOLLE columns. Torso height adjustment is done through adjustments to the shoulder straps. There is a Front and Back Ballistic Plate carrying capability. System A offers easy donning and doffing via front side release buckles.

System B is made of three main components. Main components are a split panel (both left and right) including two supplementary shoulder straps to support the split panel when used alone and a waist strap to support the front panel and stabilize the load, and a back yoke. A collection of matching pouches and equipment holders, have also been identified to ensure design compatibility.

System (C) consists of two main components. This design consists of a front chest rig panel with a bib style harness which can be worn up or down and accommodate a front ballistic plate. This front panel can be worn on its own. Load capacity can be increased by the addition of the Chest Rig Back panel which can also accommodate a back ballistic plate. A collection of matching pouches and equipment holders have also been identified to ensure design compatibility.

A bit more here.
 
Nice to see they've recognized formally, in public and in writing, that it's a POS for modern warfare. Isn't 'recognizing that you have a problem' the first step on the road to recovery?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve-step_program
 
The latest and greatest CANLANGEN on the subject as promised

CANLANGEN 012





CANLANDGEN  012/09  CLS  038/09



0312532Z NOV 09



UPDATE ON AQUISITION OF OPERATIONAL CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT



REF: CANLANDGEN 009/09 CLS 021/09 211515Z JUL 09



1. THE AIM OF THIS CANLANDGEN IS TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS

OF KEY OPERATIONAL CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT PROCUREMENTS AND UPGRADES.



2. THE ARMY IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE OPERATIONAL

CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT TO CF PERSONNEL CONDUCTING LAND OPERATIONS.

OUR EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED THROUGH RIGOROUS ANALYSIS AND HUMAN

FACTOR INTEGRATION AND SUPPORTED BY EXTENSIVE TECHNICAL AND FIELD

TRIALS.



3. DESPITE THE RIGOUR THAT GOES INTO DELIVERY OF ARMY EQUIPMENT,

OPERATIONAL EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN THAT SOME IN-SERVICE EQUIPMENT DOES

NOT SATISFACTORILY MEET THE DEMANDS OF SOLDIERS IN COMPLETING THEIR

MISSIONS. WHEN SUCH OCCASIONS ARISE, IT IS CRITICAL THAT IMMEDIATE

NOTIFICATION OF EQUIPMENT DEFICIENCIES BE RAISED THROUGH THE CHAIN

OF COMMAND SO THAT TIMELY CORRECTIVE ACTION MAY BE TAKEN BY

REQUIREMENT AND PROCUREMENT STAFF.



4. THE DIRECTOR LAND REQUIREMENTS (DLR) AND DIRECTOR GENERAL LAND

EQUIPMENT PROGRAM MANAGEMENT (DGLEPM) ARE IN THE PROCESS OF

PROCURING A NUMBER OF OPERATIONAL CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT ITEMS TO

CORRECT DEFICIENCIES RAISED ABOUT SEVERAL IN-SERVICE ITEMS. AN

UPDATE OF THOSE ITEMS FOLLOWS.



5.  HYBRID COMBAT SHIRT. IN EXTREME HOT CONDITIONS, THE ARID CADPAT

COMBAT SHIRT LAYERED OVER THE COMBAT TSHIRT LACKS THE ABILITY TO

WICK MOISTURE WHEN WORN UNDER THE FRAGMENTATION VEST CREATING

DISCOMFORT AND RISK OF HEAT INJURY.  THE HYBRID SHIRT HAS BEEN

DEVELOPED WITH A TORSO OF LIGHTWEIGHT, WICKING MATERIAL WITH AR

COMBAT SLEEVES INCLUDING POCKETS. THE SLEEVES ALSO OFFER FLAME

RESISTANT PROTECTION. IN JUL 08, APPROVAL WAS GRANTED TO PROCURE UP

TO 20,000 HYBRID SHIRTS.  A TRIAL QUANTITY OF 330 SHIRTS HAVE BEEN

DELIVERED TO TF 3-09. LESSONS LEARNED DURING THE TRIAL WILL INFORM

THE FINAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE MAIN DELIVERIES WHICH ARE EXPECTED TO

START EARLY 2010 IN TIME TO EQUIP TF 1-10.



6.  INTERIM LOAD CARRIAGE.  DLR 5 HAS AGGRESSIVELY PROSECUTED THE

RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERIM MODULAR LOAD CARRIAGE SYSTEM AND HAS

INITIATED ITS PROCUREMENT UTILIZING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE

OPERATIONAL LOAD CARRIAGE WORKING GROUP (JURY). MODULAR FIGHTING

RIGS (MFR) WILL BE ACQUIRED FOR A SEQUENTIAL THREE TASK FORCE

OPERATIONAL FIELD TRIAL STARTING IN EARLY 2010. THE TRIAL

PARTICIPANTS ARE INTENDED TO BE THE DISMOUNTED CLOSE COMBAT SOLDIERS

OF THE TASK FORCE INF SUB-UNITS, PRT FORCE PROTECTION, AND OMLT. THE

LESSONS CAPTURED FROM THE FIELD TRIAL WILL BE COUPLED WITH A

CONCURRENT TECHNICAL TRIAL IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE FINAL

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MANUFACTURE AND DELIVERY OF A FUTURE MODULAR

LOAD CARRIAGE SYSTEM.



7.  THE FIRST MFR ARE EXPECTED TO BE ISSUED FOR USE BY TF

1-10. SOLDIERS OF TF 1-10 WILL CONTINUE TO WEAR THE

IN-SERVICE TACTICAL VEST, BUT AS AN INTERIM MEASURE DURING HIGH

READINESS TRAINING OR OPERATIONS, THE DEPLOYING BRIGADE OR TASK

FORCE COMMANDER MAY APPROVE THE WEARING OF LOAD CARRIAGE SYSTEMS

THAT HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN APPROVED FOR TRIAL USE FROM THE FOLLOWING

COMPANIES:



A.              ARKTIS

B.              BLACKHAWK

C.              EAGLE

D.              FELLFAB

E.              HIGHSPEED GEAR

F.              PACIFIC SAFETY PRODUCTS

G.              TACTICAL TAILOR

H.              SORD

I.              COTMS



8. SOLDIERS OF TF 1-10 AND TF 3-10 WILL CONTINUE TO WEAR THE

IN-SERVICE TACTICAL VEST. UNTIL NEW MODULAR LOAD CARRIAGE, INCLUDING

WES PLATFORMS, ARE DELIVERED, THE IN-SERVICE WES TACTICAL VEST MUST

CONTINUE TO BE WORN BY ALL SOLDIERS PARTICIPATING IN WES TRAINING.

SOLDIERS NOT PART OF THE MFR TRIAL SHALL ALSO CONTINUE TO USE THE

IN-SERVICE TACTICAL VESTS.



9.  SMALL PACK SYSTEM. THE COMFORT ASPECT OF THE SMALL PACK HAS BEEN

ADDRESSED THROUGH MODIFICATIONS TO THE STRAPS AND STRAP SUSPENSION

SYSTEM. THESE MODIFICATIONS HAVE INCREASED THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE

PACK TO BE WORN OVER BOTH FRAGMENT AND TACTICAL VEST. THE SHORTFALL

IN VOLUME EXPERIENCED BY SOLDIERS CARRYING RADIOS WILL BE MITIGATED

BY THE ACQUISITION OF THE SMALLER PRC 152.



10. DESERT COMBAT BOOTS (DCB). A FORM, FIT AND FUNCTION TRIAL WAS

CONDUCTED AT CFB PETAWAWA JUN 09.  THE DCB 09 HAS NOT ACHIEVED THE

REQUIRED 80 PERCENT USER ACCEPTANCE FOR FORM, FIT AND FUNCTION. DLR

AND DSSPM HAVE NEGOTIATED PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT WITH THE MANUFACTURER.

FURTHER FIELDING OF THE DCB 09 TO DISMOUNTED COMBAT ARMS SOLDIERS

HAS BEEN SUSPENDED UNTIL PRODUCT IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN PROVEN. 

THIS IS FORECASTED TO BE IMPLEMENTED BY SPRING 2010.



11. TEMPERATE COMBAT BOOTS (TCB). TWO TRIALS WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE

COMING NINE MONTHS TO CONFIRM THE WAY AHEAD FOR THE TCB.  IN THE

INTERIM, THE PROCUREMENT OF 15,000 PAIRS OF GENERAL PURPOSE BOOTS

(GPB) ENSURES THE AVAILABILITY OF OPERATIONAL FOOTWEAR TO TROOPS IN

TEMPERATE CLIMATE.



12. ARMY FUTURE OPERATIONAL FOOTWEAR CAPABILITY PROGRAM. THE ASST

CLS PROVIDED A POLICY GUIDANCE STATEMENT DIRECTING THE DELIVERY OF A

FUTURE, OPERATIONALLY RELEVANT, FOOTWEAR CAPABILITY FOR THE ARMY. 

WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THIS PROGRAM THE DCB 09, TCB AND GPB ARE

NOW DEEMED INTERIM FOOTWEAR BY DLR.



13. BALLISTIC EYEWEAR (BEW). BEW CONTINUES TO PROTECTING SOLDIERS

VISION AND IS A HIGH USAGE ITEM.  75,000 VERMILLION LENSES HAVE BEEN

ACQUIRED A SUPPLY OF WHICH IS BEING DELIVERED TO TFA, WITH A VIEW TO

ISSUING TWO LENSES PER PERSON.



14. BALLISTIC GOGGLES. DELIVERIES ARE EXPECTED TO TF 3-09 NOV 09. 

TF 1-10 WILL BEGIN RECEIPT IN FEB 2010.  ANOTHER PROJECT WILL FIELD

72,000 PAIRS OF GOGGLES FOR THE CF WITH FIELDING BEGINNING IN 2011.



15. CADPAT CONVERGED RAINSUIT (CCR). THE CCR IS IN FULL

PRODUCTION AND THE FIELDING PLAN HAS BEEN PUBLISHED. THIS PLAN,

SIGNED OFF BY THE ARMY G3, CLEARLY DEFINES THE PRIORITY OF ISSUE AND

DATES UNITS CAN EXPECT TO RECEIVE THE CCR.  ISSUANCE CONTINUES IAW

THE ARMY FIELDING PLAN. THE CCR WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE

SOLDIERS ABILITY TO OPERATE EFFECTIVELY IN WET WEATHER CONDITIONS

AND PROVIDE NEW LEVEL OF COMFORT WHILE LIVING IN THE FIELD.



16. CADPAT ARID COMBAT VEHICLE CREW SUIT. THE PROCUREMENT OF 2000

CREW SUITS IS UNDERWAY.  THE FIRST 110 SUITS HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO TF

3-09.  INITIAL FEEDBACK IS EXPECTED TO DLR MID-NOV.



17. MONOCULAR NIGHT VISION GOGGLES (MNVG).  A CONTRACT FOR AN

ADDITIONAL 2000 AN PVS 14 MNVG HAS BEEN AWARDED. DELIVERIES ARE

EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN THE FIRST MAR 2010.



18. LIGHT-WEIGHT COMPACT METAL DETECTORS (LMCD). A TOTAL OF 416

LMCD ARE BEING PROCURED BY THREE DIFFERENT PROJECTS, WITH DELIVERIES

TO BE COMPLETE BY NOV 09. IN THE INTERIM, ADDITIONAL IN-SERVICE F1A4

MINELAB HANDHELD MINE DETECTORS WERE SHIPPED TO JTF-A TO COVER THE

CURRENT CAPABILITY GAP, WITH SCALING SUFFICIENT TO PROVIDE TWO

DETECTORS PER INFANTRY PLATOON, PLUS LOGISTICS AND OPERATIONAL

STOCKS.  TF 3-09 TRAINED WITH THE IN-SERVICE DETECTOR, AND UPON THE

FIELDING OF THE LMCD, WILL SWITCH SYSTEMS WITH FSR SUPPORT PROVIDED

IN THEATRE FOR TECHNICAL TRG. FSRS WILL ALSO BE CONTRACTED TO ASSIST

IN THE TRAINING OF DETECTOR OPERATORS IN EACH LFA.



19. COMMAND WIRE DETECTORS (CWD). DRDC SUFFIELD PURCHASED 22 CWD

UNITS AS A BUY-AND-TRY, 14 OF WHICH WERE SHIPPED TO THEATRE

FOLLOWING THE TECHNICAL AND USER TRIAL. THEIR USE IN THEATRE WILL BE

DICTATED BY THE AVAILABILITY OF TRAINERS. THE 8 REMAINING CWD ARE

DISTRIBUTED AS 2 X DRDC, 2 X CFSME, AND 4 WITH UNITS ON THE RTHR.

DLR IS PURSUING ACQUISITION OF UP TO 170 CWD WHICH SHOULD BE

DELIVERED IN LATE SPRING OR EARLY SUMMER OF 2010.



20. ELECTRONIC COUNTER MEASURES (ECM). THE THIRD BATCH OF ECM

SYSTEMS WAS CONTRACTED IN MAR 09 HAS BEEN FULLY RECEIVED AT 25 CFSD.

EQUIPMENT HAS BEGUN TO BE DELIEVERED IN THEATRE



21. RADIOS. A TOTAL OF 600 MULTI BAND HANDHELD PRC-152 RADIOS HAS

BEEN PROCURED. THE FIRST 200 RADIOS WERE DELIVERED TO THE ARMY IN

JUL 2009.  THE NEXT BATCH OF 200 RADIOS WILL BE DELIVERED TO THE

ARMY BY DEC 2009, WITH THE FINAL 200 BEING DELIVERED BEFORE JAN 2010



22. I REMAIN CONFIDENT THAT THESE SOLUTIONS WILL IMPROVE THE

COMFORT AND OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS OF CF PERSONNEL CONDUCTING

LAND OPERATIONS. I CAUTION THAT IT DOES TAKE TIME TO CONTRACT,

MANUFACTURE, TEST AND DELIVER EQUIPMENT, SO ALL LEVELS OF COMD MUST

MANAGED EXPECTATIONS ACCORDINGLY



SIGNED LGEN A.B. LESLIE, CHIEF OF THE LAND STAFF
 
Which makes my head shake that they did not include MSA - Paraclete since those rigs are in use within CANSOFCOM...
 
Infidel-6 said:
Which makes my head shake that they did not include MSA - Paraclete since those rigs are in use within CANSOFCOM...

[sarcasm]Yeah... but what do THOSE guys know, anyways?[/sarcasm]
 
;D 

I am willing to accept briefly Big Army's argument that SOF does have a different mission, however when you cut to the chase, a dismount in a gunfight, is a dismount in a gun fight.

DHTC had two rigs that where miles above the TV design the DHTC Chest Rig and Patrol Vest.  While they where not MOLLE, they where way better than the TV and IMHO the TV should never have been birthed...
 
Tender just came out again today however it still lists specific attachment systems.

Here are all the ones available.

http://milspecmonkey.com/customize/info/71-pals-connection-styles
 
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